Whisty on What She Wears

Hello!

Just a quick note to say that I was asked to feature on a great Irish fashion website, WhatSheWears.ie. I really like the site and was delighted to feature as guest editor, joining such fashion leaders as Corina Gaffey from Stellar magazine, Blogger and stylist Anne Marie O’Connor and Sarah Rickard from Irish Tatler. Inspirational woman all.

So here is what I had to say:

Favourite Spring/Summer 2012 designer collection

Alexander McQueen’s S/S12 collection was breathtaking, looking at coverage of the Paris show, every piece Sarah Burton sent down the catwalk looked like it was sculpted out of coral or alabaster and tipped with gold leaf. Even the oil-slick-black gowns looked delicate and fragile. It is a stunning collection, I love when the art of fashion is so overtly expressed.

Spring/Summer trend and how you’ll be wearing it

I am head over heels with the return of the peplum. Jason Wu and Vera Wang’s S/S’12 versions are wearable and easily translatable. While Alexander McQueen and Givenchy’s are exquisite and showy, I like how the peplum has returned in different ways; the traditional version as a second layer over a skirt; on the bottom of jackets to soften sharp, fitted suits; then worn over trousers and shirts as well as skirts.

If I could wear it anyway it would be with black netting as part of a pretty floral summer dress by Nina Ricci (pictured). Peplum perfection!

Highstreet Shop

I rarely shop on the High Street; I find the idea of buying cheaply made overpriced ‘on-trend’ pieces in manmade fibre, wholly distasteful during such tough economic times. I much prefer to shop at vintage fairs and flea markets.

I also shop online through ASOS, its Marketplace; (marketplace.asos.com) is a great way to buy good quality clothes at reasonable prices. I also sell on there too on Once Removed Vintage.

Favourite Shop in Dublin

I’m afraid my favourite Dublin shop is no great revelation; Brown Thomas is without a shadow of doubt a heavenly place to be if you like anything to do with fashion. From jewellery, to perfumes, shoes to designer gowns, on every floor you’re surrounded by beautiful things and it actually makes you feel special. The staff are great, the décor is chic and the whole experience is joyful. (Made only that little bit better when you have enough in your purse to actually buy anything!).

Make-up look

Eyebrows. I’m obsessed with them at the moment; I recently had an eyebrow lesson from a consultant at Benefit Cosmetics. She showed me how to use their ‘Brow Zings’ shaping kit properly, among other things. When I look back at photographs of myself when I was at university I had really thin brows, (I actually look like I’ve attacked my eyebrows with a disposable razor) I can’t believe the difference that now having a good pair of defining brows makes.

Go-to piece in your wardrobe

Maxi dresses are my staple pieces; they’re as suited for formal events as they are for balmy summer evenings. I have a beautiful black, silk chiffon one with tiny shoestring straps that I wear for anything glamorous, and a number of cheap, brightly coloured ones that are great to throw on with flats for casual summer days.

Best bargain

A turquoise and pink bouclé tweed Chanel suit that I found in a dreadful state at a vintage kilo sale (yes, it honestly does happen). It weighed 1.05kg, and at 1kg=€20 it cost me €21. I sent it to the dry cleaners (twice in the case of the skirt), and afterwards removed all remaining marks with wool-carpet cleaner. It’s damn near perfect now.

Most Prized Pair of Shoes

All shoes make me happy, but heels even more so. I like the way they look and I like the way they make you feel. They take a lot more effort to wear than flats, but the rewards from wearing them are worth it. Brand wise I think Kurt Geiger (pictured) manage to achieve the right balance between style, price and quality. They also do great classic pairs that last for years. I have a pair of black suede knee-high boots that I bought four winters ago that I’ve looked after so well they’re still going to be wearable in two winters time.

Signature Perfume

During the daytime I wear Jo Malone, normally it’s the fresh and citrusy ‘English Pear and Freesia’ but I also adore ‘Wild Bluebell’. At night time I wear Coco Chanel. It’s such a heady, sensual scent and is as perfect for evening as a silk ball gown.

Top style tip

Even if you don’t think it’s going to suit you, your body shape or your skin tone, try anything and everything. If you don’t try everything, then you’ll never know what definitely does look bad and what looks great on you.

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 Read the full article here, and if you haven’t discovered the joy of reading What She Wears, try it out!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas S/S’12 Preview Dublin

Hello,

Happy belated New Year.

Finally Something Inspiring! I’ve felt like I’ve been in style limbo since December. But with the brilliant sunshine in Dublin yesterday came the Spring / Summer 2012 Brown Thomas showcase.

Twice a year fashion eds, stylists and bloggers frock up, and bleary-eyed arrive at the invitation-only event to see the new season collection arriving in store. The event is simple and brilliant; It is a fashion show, which this featured models wearing selected pieces from 27 designers.

S/S’12′s key trends came in four main themes…

‘Flower Shower’ (New florals), ‘Sports Couture’, Modernist Monochrome’, ‘Colour’ (The new palette).

Stand out pieces included floral prints from Stella McCartney, Mary Katrantzou and Dries Van Noten. The latter doing south pacific prints on beautiful silks

Monochromes from new designer Jay Ahr (pronounced J.R.), Diane Von Furstenberg and Alexander McQueenL-R: Jay Ahr, Alexander McQueen, Jay Ahr, Jay Ahr, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen.

New season colours from, Peter Pilotto, Roksanda Ilincic, Chloé, Lanvin and Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney, detail.

Jay Ahr, detail.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas Christmas Windows 2011

Hi All,

Time to open up the first door of your advent calendar!

To celebrate December 1st and the date when it’s OK to feel festive and Christmassy, we’ve gone all dreamy with the ballet inspired Christmas windows in Brown Thomas, Dublin. The only Christmas windows worth looking at in Dublin in my humble opinion. (See 2009 and 2010 here).

Swan Lake

Sleeping Beauty

The Nutcraker

In Mary Katrantzou…

Cinderella

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Whistles S/S ’12 Round Up

Hi all,

The high street stores are showcasing and previewing their Spring / Summer 2012 collections. Most recently in to visit Dublin were COS and Whistles.

Before I saw the collection, I wouldn’t really consider myself a Whistles customer, but having seen highlights from the collection, I can say I’m definitely sold.

There were two main themes:

A bright, bold collection of neon colours and androgynous tailoring…

…including lots of matching separates, a blue tux jacket with tapered trousers,

…a pink tux with lighter pink contrast detail…

Striped separates…

Beautiful floral-print top and trousers…

The second collection was beautifully feminine, embellished nudes and pastels…

Including, new for Whistles leather pieces – scalloped nude leather…

…and laser-cut black leather…

…as well as classic shift dresses…

Good to see that the pleated midi skirt is still a wardrobe staple for S/S’12, especially in this powder-blue.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Whistles is available in Brown Thomas Grafton Street.

Brown Thomas Exclusives in the Marvel Room

Hello,

Not that I need an excuse to post about beautifully crafted designer pieces, but Brown Thomas opened up their Christmas Marvel Room last week.

It’s basically the perfect Christmas wish-list, which I gather is the whole point. All the exclusive and limited edition Alexander McQueen pieces, and Chanel‘s €5,350 gold and silver python bags were pretty beautiful. Prices weren’t all bonkers though YSL and Mcqueen bracelets are €160 and €120-€150 respectively.

Chanel

Chanel Classic Flap Alligator clutch (Large €25,000; Small €17,800)

Chanel, classic flap sequinned lambskin bags and 1 of only 3 silver python bags, (€5,350).

Chanel, 1 of only 2 gold python skin bags.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen, skull print Pashmina (€225)

Alexander McQueen, silk scarf. Exclusive to The Marvel Room at Brown Thomas (294)

Alexander McQueen, silk and cashmere polka-dot skull scarf (€260)

Alexander McQueen, leather bracelets (€130-€150)

Chloé, Gabby grab bag (€2,900)

Lanvin copper metallic cosmetics pouch (€195) & YSL clutch (€595)

There was also a Tiffany & Co. craftsman installed in the room, demonstrating how their beautiful bangles and cuffs (from €490)

Now it’s all about the Christmas windows! Excited to see how they beat last years!

Happy Santa, letter writing!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Christian Louboutin S/S’12 preview

Happy Halloween All,

Last Friday, I dashed into Brown Thomas to get a sneak peek at what Christian Louboutin has in store (pun fail) for us next season. After 20 years of making them, his red-soled shoes are some of the most iconic, talked about  footwear in fashion; his S/S’12 collection also includes some pretty fabulous bags as well.

It’s all about snake skin and fetish with a bit of country chic in there too.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of keeping women well-shod, and men drooling at their feet, a beautiful, pink faux-leather-bound book has been released. It’s contents include a history of the brand, and highlights from each Louboutin collection created over the last two decades.

It also contains photographs created in collaborations “between Christian Louboutin and some of his closest friends”. Including, Kristin Scott Thomas, Dita Von Teese, French actress Arielle Dombasle and Welsh Rugby player, Gareth Thomas. The book will be on sale in the Marvel Room in Brown Thomas this Christmas.

Here’s a short ‘making of’ video showing Kristin Scott Thomas’ photo shoot for the book.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

New Shoes : McQueen Slipper Pumps

Hey All,

I got new A/W ’11 shoes. I wanted plain black courts with no platforms, and I found these…

Allow me to indulge.

Alexander McQueen, calf skin, slipper pumps / court shoes from Brown Thomas.

I’m wearing them ALL weekend.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Brown Thomas A/W11 Designer collections

Hey All,

Pretty much the most stylish and important event on the Irish fashion calendar is the Brown Thomas new-season preview. It’s the closest thing to a full-on, (established) designer fashion show in Dublin, and is met with genuine excitement and anticipation.

The A/W ’11 preview was held yesterday on Grafton Street with a ‘Return to Glamour’ theme. There were four main elements to the show; ‘Colour Fall’. ‘Glamour Decades’. ‘Prints’. ‘Outerwear’.

The collection featured highlights from 23 designers, including Céline, Miu Miu, Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten, here’s a few stand out pieces:

‘Colour Fall’

‘Glamour Decades’

‘Prints’

‘Outerwear’
Some Goodies:Utter perfection in every way at Céline

Surprising inspiration from Rachel Zoe

An alternative take on the LBD at Miu Miu (amazing sleeves)

Voluminous mini-dresses at Balenciaga

Stars and leopard print-clash dress at Dolce & Gabbana

Cups detailing in velvet at Tom Ford

Man, I am ever a sucker for military detailing. The back of the Alexander McQueen coat.

I reckon it must be a pretty tough job being  a buyer at Brown Thomas. Imagine looking at every amazing piece that each design house comes up with, every season, and then having to cherry pick the most commercial and ‘less risky / outlandish’ pieces to sell in store. They’ve done it though, I think this Autumn / Winter collection is both inspiring and commercial. I don’t know if I could do that!

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Katrantzou & the IMMA – A celebration of fashion & art

Hey All,

Brown Thomas honours the 20th anniversary of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA); having created an art/fashion installation in the store‘s Grafton street windows. The showcase, called the ‘Art of Fashion’, combines the talents of fashion designers, like Mary Katrantzou and Irish / Irish-based artists Perry Ogden and Alan Phelan.

At the Brown Thomas SS11 showcase it was undoubtedly Mary Katrantzou‘s SS11 collection that stole the show, so it seems only natural that her latest (AW11) collation is featured in such a big way.

The window went in yesterday and I stopped by this afternoon to grab a few snaps.

Mary Katrantzou and Perry Ogden

Mary Katrantzou with Alan Phelan’s ‘Cabbages’.

Details: Jewel and rose encrusted skirt.

Goldfish prints and floral-printed trousers:

One of the now familiar Lampshade skirts:

Here are a couple of (professional) images:

Mary Katrantzou’s SS11 collection at LFW:At the Topshop venue.

Image via: Getty.

Backstage at LFW SS10:Image via Zimbio

I love this last shot, long gone are the days where it takes 4 people to dress you… sigh…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Triumph Lingerie Inspiration Awards at Brown Thomas

Hey All,

Charity fashion shows don’t come in this shape and form very often. To celebrate 125 years in the business of keeping certain parts of the female anatomy from heading southwards, Triumph have themed this years’ Inspiration Awards (TIA), ‘125 of Celebrating Women‘.

Design students from around the world were challenged to conceptualize and design a unique lingerie showpiece in that theme. 19 students from Griffith College and Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) entered the competition to represent Ireland; the winner will travel to Berlin this July where winning designers from each country will compete in the global finals.

The 19 Irish student designers presented their concept showpieces in a fashion show in Brown Thomas, Dublin on Wednesday evening. It was quite the glitzy event; judges included Brix Smith Start, Brown Thomas Lingerie, Buyer Mary Mullin, Triumph Head of Marketing, Purminder Mondair and Sunday Independent Columnist, Triona McCarthy. The M.C. for the evening was T4‘s three-piece-suit wearing, George Lamb.

The results: Runner Up #1: 3rd place Svitlana Andriyets – ‘Feline Fantasy’

Runner Up #2: 2nd place Stephen Foley – ‘Why Do Dishes When You Can Do Daquari?’

Winner: Sarah Ryan – ‘The Edge Of Euphoria’

Interesting that all three finalists were inspired by the feminine eras of the past – the prim ’50′s and  the bohemian ’70′s. The judges were looking for designs that were both innovative and wearable (the basic necessities of most successful fashion design concepts, no?) and the final three designs offered both. Designs from previous years were translated into high street pieces, and I’d love to see how Sarah Ryan’s winning piece will look.

It’s quite unusual to see a catwalk / fashion show and see a single piece that stands out so markedly from the others. That’s exactly what Sarah Ryan’s concept did; I had visions of an on-stage Stevie Nicks as the intricate leather braiding and chiffon sleeved design went past. It did smack of the laid back femininity of the ’70′s but without looking remotely dated. Congrats Sarah.

Winning Designer Sarah Ryan with her design. If this is the future of underwear, I’m in.

All the designs will be displayed in the lingerie department in Brown Thomas Dublin for the next week.

L-R: Triumph Inspiration Award winners – 2nd place Stephen Foley and his design, 1st place Sarah Ryan and ‘The edge of Euphoria’, 3rd place Svitlana Andriyets and her design.

All monies raised at Wednesday’s event in Brown Thomas will go to The Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.

Yours,

Whisty Xx